Lifestyle

Calvin Klein – the perfect one piece you need for your next vacay

April 8, 2018

I recently had a wonderful beach vacay in Bali and you can check out my holiday pictures on my Instagram! Bali is truly a paradise for the most luxurious resorts and services at relatively affordable prices compared to the other islands. The resort I stayed at was Ritz Carlton in Nusa Dua (south of Bali with 45 minutes drive to the central). It has cabanas by the pool (number 1 criteria for me!), a large kids club with kids pool and slides, and a private beach where you can have a camel ride! I also spotted a few Korean superstars holidaying there! I won’t go into the details of the resort as this post is mainly for sharing my Calvin Klein one piece swimwear (bought here with worldwide shipping) that I got a lot of messages on Instagram for. Overall I really enjoyed my stay there and I would highly recommend it to everyone especially if you have children and you are after a more secluded location.

I became super-conscious with my body after I had kids which meant one-piece swimwear over bikinis at any time. Just like a LBD, a black one-piece has always my weakness. It’s simple yet so chic. For this holiday, I added this piece by Calvin Klein. It has the perfect flattering cut with a scoop neck, and a small logo on the bottom of the piece, and a logo elastic strap at the back that is very Calvin-Klein with a sporty vibe.

Ending the post with 2 of my favorite pictures from the holiday.

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Labels: Bali • BEACH • Calvin Klein • HOLIDAY • Swimwear • VACATION

Tokyo Holiday Part 1 – The Peninsula Tokyo Hotel Review

September 14, 2017

August is always the holiday month for my family as we have two birthday celebrations (me and my boy!) and there is nothing better than having the celebrations overseas! This year we spent two weeks in Japan, and we had such a great time if you follow me on Instagram. The trip is mainly for city hopping with lots of shopping and eating around. We stayed at 3 different hotels during the trip – Peninsula Tokyo, Conrad Osaka and Park Hyatt. Out of the 3 hotels my top favorite was The Peninsula Tokyo for its perfect location and the impeccable service.

Lobby

For the first leg of the trip where we would be spending 7 nights in Tokyo, I wanted to stay at Ginza because it is my favorite area for shopping and restaurants. If you have kids, you should not miss the Toy Park Ginza which is a 5 storey toy paradise! I was debating between Four Seasons (which is my all time favorite hotel chain), and the Peninsula Tokyo and both of them are located at Ginza. I chose the latter because the location seems to be better and I also wanted to experience the iconic peninsula experience in comparison to my beloved ‘four seasons’ service.

Peninsula is known for their luxury transportation for the guests (surcharges apply)

We arrived at Tokyo on a very wet day with a severe thunderstorm and pouring rain. We had a chauffer picked us up from the airport (extra charge) and on arrival at the hotel, there were lots of doormen working in the rain to make sure we stayed dry with lots of umbrellas covering us which was impressive. The entire check-in was quick and smooth and the host introduced us to the room. Being a top luxury hotel, I love the fact that Peninsula is also known as a child-friendly and family-oriented hotel. I just love the extra touch they added to the room for my child which included a complimentary toy pack, children’s snacks and milk, children’s robe, slippers, skincare and even a diaper disposal bin!

for the kids

The room itself is very roomy and is much bigger than a standard Tokyo hotel room with a view of Ginza streets. The most amazing part of the room is the massive walk-in-closet. It almost feels like a second room with lots of racks and storage spaces, huge full-length mirrors, and a big vanity table with a built-in nail dryer! The bathroom is also very roomy with double vanities, a separate bath tub and a shower room. In addition, their bath towels are the best I have used (yep I am an Egyptian cotton towel snob).

Our Room – Grand Premier Twin Room

The hotel serves breakfasts at 2 different restaurants. You can have the à la carte at the lobby restaurant which I highly recommend. There are a lot of choices include western, japanese, and chinese sets on the à la carte menu, and every dish is well prepared and presented. I was surprised that I was not bored of their breakfasts after 7 days. The children’s menu is also full of options and well edited. The hotel also serves breakfast buffet at their basement café. I found it to be average as the choices were limited, and the service was not fast enough if it runs at full occupancy.

À La Carte

Buffet

The hotel has an outdoor cafe with a cute coffee van which is my favorite coffee stop.

Every afternoon you can meet with the iconic Peninsula Teddy Bear! In the evening, you can have dinner or just drinks in their lobby restaurant while enjoying the live jazz band. They also have a bar at the top floor with amazing views but I have not been.

Every hotel staff is impeccably dressed. Being a fashion lover, I love seeing their beautiful hostesses dressed in the classic full-white uniforms, and it makes you feel special when you enter the hotel with a lady-in-uniform turning the revolving door for you.

My favorite has to be the complimentary bicycles that the hotel offers! You can hire them for a day just to pedal around Ginza!

Swimming pool

Location

It is located on the quiet end of Ginza which is perfect for me. It takes 5 minutes to walk to the busy shopping streets, and 2 minutes’ walk to the royal palace. It is also located above a train station, so it’s super convenient to catch a train.

Overall Rating:

Interior 4.5/5

Comfort 5/5

Child Friendliness 5/5

Facilities 5/5

Service 5/5

Food 4.5/5

Location 5/5

Total score 5/5!!

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Labels: HOLIDAY • Hotel Review • Japan • LIFESTYLE • Luxury Hotel • Peninsula • Peninsula Tokyo • Tokyo

Monthly Favorites

March 27, 2017

I can’t believe it’s nearly the end of March as I haven’t updated my blog as I planned. I have been having rounds of flu lately so not in the perfect condition for swatching new products, but I thought I’d share some of my favorite and most-used products of the month.

MAKEUP

1. I’ve been using the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette Seductive Beauty almost every day ever since I got my hands on it. Thumbs up for its practicality and easy to wear, and they just look flattering without looking like you have too much makeup on. Detailed review for both palettes here.

2. My skin has been looking ok lately, so I am opting for a very natural foundation. The Tom Ford Traceless Foundation gives the dewiest and most natural finish that is completely traceless as the name suggests. The low-down is that the coverage is very sheer and the ultra dewiness will not work for oily skin. The highlight is that it is very hydrating for dry and aging skin, and you can easily fake the most glowing editorial-like complexion with this foundation! FYI my shade is Albaster that is similar to NC15-20.

3. The exclusive Chanel Le Blanc Compact Foundation is one of the best the powder foundations I have used for its buttery texture, good coverage, and feels quite moisturizing for a powder-based foundation. Detailed review here.

4. Switching to bright coral lips lately after being on brown lips for months! My favorites are the MAC Retro Matte Rich & Restless (swatched here) and Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick Berlin (swatched here).

SKINCARE & HAIRCARE

5. I prefer washing powder more than paste these days, and the Kose Sekkisei White Powder Washing Powder forms into the most creamy lather that deeply cleans and gently exfoliates your skin. It also helps to clarify and brighten your skin after each wash that you can see the difference.

6. I have been resisting Oribe haircare line for a while as it’s a very expensive line and I knew I would be loving it. Finally bought the Oribe Signature Conditioner travel-sized to give it a try when I was on holiday and I was blown away! It’s not easy to transform my overly processed dry hair to the best hair condition, and this conditioner did it after only 1 wash! Will definitely be getting the full-size set soon.

LIFESTYLE

7. I am a big fan of home fragrance, and as a result, I am obsessed with Diptyque. I have pretty much used most of their home fragrances, and my all time favorite will always be the Baies. I have it in Candle, Room Spray as well as the Scented Oval (reviewed here)!

8. Received a lot of questions about this beautiful crystal and gold coaster when I posted it on my instagram lately. They are from the brand RABLABS (I bought it here and also available here worldwide). They are beyond beautiful in real life when it gleams under different angles, and make your vanity/coffee table instantly more expensive and glamourous!

9. Here is another accessory that I have been wearing a lot. The Celine Shadows Flattop sunglasses that is seen on every fashionista! Currently on sale at 40% off here!

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Labels: CELINE • CHANEL • Charlotte Tilbury • DIPTYQUE • KOSE • LIFESTYLE • Oribe • RABLABS • SUNGLASSES • Tom Ford

Mid-Blog Crisis?

February 27, 2017

I was meant to post a review today, and somehow it turned into a totally random ramble for me. I am currently going through a phase that I feel burnt out from juggling the demands between my full time job, blogging and looking after a 3 yr old who takes most of my time. I am taking some time to think how to re-prioritize and get my life more organised and efficient! If you have any good tips and ideas please don’t hesitate to share them with me.

I’ve seen so many of my fellow blogger friends quit blogging after becoming a mommy, and I have to say that this idea is always on the back of my mind as it will make my life much easier and less stressful. On the other hand, I love blogging very much. It is the only avenue for me to share my creativity, as well as my love for beauty and fashion! Hopefully I will have a better solution, so I can be more efficient with blogging and expand my blog with wider content, as I know many of you are interested in seeing more lifestyle posts from me such as a home tour, my wardrobe, my collections, and how I organise my makeup, shoes etc..They are work-in-progress I promise!

Found this cute picture with my boy who loves photo bombing and copying me! I have been literally living in these Bally Slippers (that can also be worn as loafers) ever since I got my hands on them (always sold out in Australia). On my boy he is wearing the Burberry Kids Polo and the cutest Mini Birkenstock.

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Phuket Holiday Diary Part 2 – Holiday Looks and Best Restaurants

September 14, 2016

The second part of my holiday diary (part 1 here) is all about fashion and food – basically two of my biggest hobbies after beauty. I have included my recommendations for some really good restaurants that I had dined in Phuket, and of course some snaps of the new resort wear I added recently.

Holiday Looks

Shopping for resort wear is always my favorite activity to do as part of holiday planning. The anticipation of going on holiday soon as well as having a valid excuse for buying more beautiful dresses always excites me. This holiday, I added another dress from my go-to brand Zimmermann. She does the most romantic and floral dresses with a boho spin, such as this off-the shoulder dress I picked. Also loving this top in the same print.

Hat – Eugenia Kim

my favorite candid shot

Camilla is the iconic high end Australian beachwear label that is stocked in most premium online retailers. Their signature bold prints in silk dresses and kaftans are over the top and dramatic, and goes well with your vacation on an exotic island! The pictures online do not do it justice, as they are so delicate, flowy and looks very expensive in real life. Most of her designs can be worn in multiple ways, and this beautiful Frill Dress I picked (also available here and here in a different print) can be worn off shoulder, one shoulder, or over the shoulders. Again I love anything with a dramatic take on the sleeves this season.

Shoes – here for less than $100 / Sunglasses – Tom Ford Aviator

Restaurants

Trisara

There were two restaurants inside Trisara, The Thai seafood restaurant served authentic Phuket styled Thai food. I dined there twice, and overall the food was great (but did not blow me away as I have very high standards for Thai food) with a lovely posh ambiance, and the service was always top notch. Trisara had another restaurant with a selection of world food over the deck area. The vibe was more relaxing, beachy, and casual with a beautiful ocean view during the day. I really enjoyed dining there as they had lots of choices for western food such as my favorite lobster sandwiches.

Every Sunday, Trisara would host their Sunday brunch which was very famous in Phuket. It was more like a premium seafood buffet that looked amazing. The brunch was extremely popular and normally booked out days in advance, and was open to public.

Some restaurants in Phuket that I highly recommend:

Bann Rim Pa – It serves high-end royal Thai food. I found the food style was quite different to the traditional Thai food. Overall the food was lovely, and it was interesting to experience what the Thai royals ate! The place is located oceanfront with a beautiful 180 ocean view, and is tastefully decorated.

Bampot – One of my favorite places in Phuket. European and Asian Fusion food with a modern open kitchen design.

Siam Supper Club – Another chic place to dine in Phuket. Love the old style New York deco, with soothing Jazz music in the background. If you are bored of Thai food, this is the place to go for some authentic grill and pizzas, and they also had some popular Thai dishes.

Raya – I had the best dinner ever! It’s the place where Thai prime ministers and celebrities go to for the most authentic thai food. The place looked very run-down but was purposely decorated to look vintage. It is located in the old town which was an interesting place to visit in Phuket other than the beaches. Apparently the food was so good that lots of wealthy people in Bangkok would fly their PAs down to Phuket just to buy the takeaways! Highly recommend.

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Labels: CAMILLA • Fashion • HOLIDAY • LIFESTYLE • OOTD • ZIMMERMANN

Phuket Holiday Diary Part 1 – Trisara Review

September 9, 2016

Sharing some holiday snaps of my recent trip to Phuket, and a travel journal for the first time on my blog.

Trisara is the resort that I had on my wishlist to visit for a very long time, so when hubby and I started our holiday planning this year, we quickly locked down our holiday destination to be Phuket so we got to stay at Trisara. It is a world leading luxury resort that is highly popular among the celebs and their rooms tend to be fully booked out during the holiday season. It is situated at a very secluded area of Phuket which is far away from Patong (the main tourist area). We booked our stay for 9 days, with the Oceanfront Pool Villa directly from the website, though the price is higher than going through hotel booking websites but we got some extra offers from the package including VIP airport pickup etc.

Flight

Booking a flight to Phuket was more challenging. We wanted to have direct flights as we have a 3 year old toddler, and Jetstar is the only airline that has direct flight to Phuket from Sydney. As we booked the business class, the entire check-in and departure were easy and quick, and the flight attendants were lovely and attentive. Since it is a budget airline, the seats in the business class are not the flat beds. Personally I think they are just slightly better and more roomy than the premium economy seats from the better airlines such as Singapore and BA. Food was also better than expected, as there were 3 menu options to choose from, and there were lots of snacks and drinks offered throughout the flight.

VIP Airport Transfer

As soon as we got off the plane, we were greeted with 2 attendants from Trisara. They took care of all the luggage, and led us to the VIP airport exit lane so we skipped queuing at the customs and immigration. It was the most amazing and quickest airport checkout I have ever had! Once we got out of the airport, the Trisara chauffeur was waiting for us and greeted us with refreshments and some icy cold towels for the hot Phuket weather. The drive to the resort from the airport was 20 minutes, and the driver spoke fluent English and made a few introductions along the way.

Resort Check-In

I was pretty much amazed by Trisara’s services the minute I stepped into the resort.

We arrived at the resort around 9pm feeling tired, but we were sent to our room straight away instead of going into the reception for checking-in. Upon arrival, there was a lovely Trisara hostess waiting for us in front of our villa, she was very welcoming and friendly and instantly bonded with my boy. When we stepped into our room, literally everything we could ever thought of having was ready. It was so thoughtful of them having the baby cot, bottle sterilizer, baby bath tub and amenities organized before we even made a request. She offered us a room tour (yep it was a big villa!), and welcomed us with another round of refreshing icy drinks, fruits, and chocolates, and also prepared lots of cupcakes for my boy.

Breakfast

Of course the breakfast is the most important meal of the day on vacation! I always look forward to spending some relaxing quality time at the breakfast. The restaurant is located oceanfront, and every table has a beautiful ocean view. The breakfast is divided into half – there is a self-serve bar for continental breakfast including varieties for pastries, cereals and Asian dumplings, and there is the A La Cart for hot breakfast with English, Thai, Japanese and Chinese choices. What I like the most is the juice bar for custom orders, and I normally get them to make a pure green juice with a blend of veges!

Ocean Front Pool Villa

Such an amazing room – I love the Balinese aesthetic to it and it still looks modern and up-to-date. The room is big enough for my son to run around the whole day without feeling crammed. The private infinity pool is the highlight, as it is big enough for a proper swim and also ideal for chilling out. There are complimentary fruits, nespressos and local flowers replenished every day.

Play and Eat

For getting around in the resort, you can either walk, or take their buggies which is our main ‘transportation’ during our stay. Everywhere in the resort is heavenly and totally instagrammable! They have a private beach that is voted as one of the world’s top beaches, and there is a big infinity swimming pool by the beach where you can relax. As a family with little kids, we have spent a lot time in the public pool area as they also have a little kiddy swimming pool with very shallow water where my boy absolutely enjoyed playing.

Other activities they provide include daily yoga, Pilates, lots of water sports, Thai cooking classes, well-being classes etc. For kids they have a dedicated kids room that is filled with toys for all age groups.

Overall the service and hospitality at Trisara was impeccable and flawless. I have stayed at many luxury resorts/hotels, and Trisara is by far the best in terms of hospitality. Every hostess knows our name everywhere we go, and we are always greeted with the warmest welcome and help. They are very attentive with every little details, and this is the only place where I feel they look after our stay beyond our expectations. At one point I had even sent a driver to purchase some nappies for my boy at midnight! The daily house keeping and evening turn down services begin as soon as we leave the room without asking! And they are done before we get back with everything fully replenished and tidied. I really can gush about it forever, but I better stop here so stay tuned for part 2 which I will talk more about the food, shopping, and my holiday looks!

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Labels: HOLIDAY • LIFESTYLE • PHUKET • TRISARA

Vacation Beauty Essentials – My Picks

August 20, 2016

I had a wonderful vacation at Phuket for 10 days which I am currently organizing some pictures to post soon. It never feels long enough but that’s what makes our vacations so special in our lives (well unless you are a celeb or a global jet setter blogger!) As for me, I am happy with our holidays every 6 months, and I thoroughly enjoy the entire planning process including what to pack! This post is for sharing the skincare products that I brought with me on holiday. Since the destination is a hot tropical island, I brought lots of lightweight hydrating and brightening serums/lotions, and because I love taking pictures I like to have products that keep my face looking firm and lifted so more photogenic… Last but not least, lots and lots of sunscreens are a must.

My favorite beach bag is bought here

CLEANSERS

Using the Bioderma Micelle Water (travel size) for makeup removal. I love the Ren Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel so much so I bought a full size of this. It’s a rose-infused gentle gel cleanser with a fresh rose smell that feels extremely soothing and refreshing which makes it a perfect morning cleanser. It doesn’t strip any moisture off, and keeps the skin supple and fresh. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is one of my HG cleansers for night time use, so I have to bring a travel size along with me. It’s a cleanser and an exfoliator in one that purifies the skin and deep cleans the pores without feeling harsh and drying on the skin. The Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1 is a refreshing toner for sweeping away any dead skin cells, and completely removes last traces of dirt and oil collected in your pores. In such a hot weathered place, I prefer to use multiple cleansing products just to keep my skin very clear and clog free.

SERUMS and MOISTURIZERS

I prep my skin with the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum – it’s a highly potent treatment lotion that immediately hydrates the skin and boost the benefits of other skincare products, (detailed review here). Followed by the luxurious Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum (reviewed here). It’s hydrating, soothing, anti-aging and provides a lifting effect to the face. During the day, I also apply the Tracie Martyn Face Resculpting Cream which is their signature product from the line. This is the travel friendly size which was made exclusive for Net-A-Porter. It can be used on the face as well as on the body for an immediate sculpting and firming effect. I have quite mixed feelings about it, as it works much better on the body than on the face for me. If you are after a face firming lotion for less than $100, nothing beats the famous Clarins Shaping Facial Lifting Total V Contouring Serum.

MASKS

I have dozens of paper masks with me (a mix of high and low end) on holiday, as the plan is to use at least one per day. As ironic as it sounds for spending most of the day at the beach and the pool during vacay, I don’t want to be tanned because my skin is prone to pigmentation! So every 2 nights I use the Sulwhasoo Snowise Ex Brightening Mask (reviewed here), It’s the best brightening mask I’ve ever used, as it definitely prevents my face from being tanned under long time sun exposure, and it helps to brighten up by one to one and a half shades after long term use. For hydrating and instant radiance boost, I like to use the SK II Facial Treatment Mask. A budget friendly brand is the Korean SNP Masks. I have used lots of theirs animal masks and liked them all. My favorite has to be the rabbit – it’s a multi purpose product that serves as a brightening beauty mask as well as keeping my 3 year old entertained by having a rabbit-faced mommy!

SUN PROTECTION

Using the french drugstore brand LA ROCHE-POSAY as they are rated very highly in a Japanese beauty magazine. Overall they are pretty good. The UVIDEA XL Melt In Cream SPF50 PA++++ is for the face that has a milky lotion texture and is non-greasy and feels light weight on the skin without feeling like having sunscreen on. The Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF50 (best seller) is for the face and the body. It is slightly richer, so I use it on my body as well as for my son as the formula is made for sensitive skin and feels light on the skin so it doesn’t clog the pores and leave a white film on the skin.

BABY

Highly recommend the LA ROCHE-POSAY Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm for babies/toddlers. It helps to heal sensitive skin, rashes and insect bites.

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Labels: ACCESSORY • BAG • BEACH • BEAUTY • HOLIDAY • PHUKET • SKINCARE • VACATION

Diptyque Scented Oval Reviews – Baies, Figuier and 34 Boulevard Saint Germain

April 25, 2016

When a big sparkling diamond is not on the near horizon, there are little luxury things in the world that will bring a smile to you everyday without breaking your bank. My favorite is probably everything from the iconic french fragrance maker – Diptyque Paris. Apart from their luxury scented candles, I have recently discovered they also carry this incredible line of Scented Ovals which I have been dreaming of to have such a product. These are the small scented home accessories that are used to perfume small spaces. Prior to this discovery of the century, I always liked the Hermes scented papier perfume, but I much prefer the Diptyques as they are longer lasting and offer lots of scented options.

The design is very elegant and look expensive in an understated french way. Each scented oval is hand-made with a white ceramic medallion, and filled with a hand-dripped scented wax that is embossed with the name of the fragrance. It is designed for perfuming small spaces such as the closet, drawer, or even the bathroom. I was told the product will last you about 1-2 years. While the scent is still very strong when it is new, it is best for keeping it in the closet and it will make your clothes smell like HEAVEN! Generally you would only keep one per closet, and it keeps the space perfumed and away from any stale odour. Depending on the size of your closet, for a small closet I find that the fragrance also transfers to the clothes mildly which is a bonus. After one year when the scent starts to dissipate, then you can leave it in a smaller space such as your drawers. It is not recommended for use in the car as the wax might melt in very hot conditions.

pictured: Sea Lace Top

The scented ovals come in 4 different fragrances – the Baies, Figuier (leans more fruity), 34 boulevard saint germain, and Roses (floral based) I picked up the former 3 as they are less feminine, and blend in well with my wardrobe. Here is a brief description on each scent.

Baies is my all time favorite fragrance from Diptyque. I have been addicted to it for years and I have it in the candles, perfume as well as the scented oval. Main notes are the roses and blackcurrants, that smells slightly woody and fruity. To me this is such a unique scent that I will never be bored of.

Figuier is a soft woody fig scent. If you love the Philosykos fragrance which is the best selling perfume for Diptyque, you would love this one.

34 is the special scent that was born after many customers requested to ‘bottle’ the boutique of Diptyque located on Saint Germain which was filled with many rare and precious fragrances. It is complex and unisex that encapsulates the scent of the boutique. If you haven’t had a chance to visit the Paris boutique, then 34 is as close as you will get!

You can find Diptyque products at Nordstrom online. I bought mine at Neiman Marcus.

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Labels: DIPTYQUE • FRAGRANCE • HOMEWARE • PERFUME

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